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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

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Forum BEHAVIOR Bunny sniffs my hands for food

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    • zeradx
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        I’ve fed my bunnies by had a few times and now I think they’ve associated my hand as a treat source. Whenever I try to pet them, they first will sniff it a bit but once they realize there’s no treat coming, they quickly turn away or sometimes nudge my hand…How can I alleviate this association; should I not be feeding them treats by hand?


      • A Flying Brick
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          Not at all, if anything they want pats. Only reason I don’t feed Riley by hand is that he nipped me last time I did.
          Rabbits nudge for two main reasons, one to get your attention the other is to say get out of the way.
          So when they nudge your hand just pat them, they’ll stay if that’s what they want.


        • BellaRabbit
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            My rabbit does this sometimes too, and she will turn her back if I don’t have a treat. But then she will come back for pats about 5 minutes later.
            I agree with A Flying Brick, mine nudges for attention when I am eating sometimes she wants (normally a banana ha ha)


          • JackRabbit
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              Why would you not want your bunny to associate you with treats? Treats are a good thing, and in bunny eyes that makes you a good thing! Marlee has bitten my palm (lightly) thinking that I still had one more treat in my hand, but I’ll take that anyday just to feel that furry face eating treats from my hand. I used to just hand one little treat at a time to the bunnies, but after one time just holding my hand out with a few and feeling that little face, I’m mush!


            • zeradx
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                Absolutely fine with me being associated with ‘treats’ but not ‘no treats, go away’. I guess I’m just not sure how to interpret the nudge of my empty hand after sniffing it…bcuz it would be something like the following:

                After an initial treat:

                I put my hand forward, approaching from the side and stopping about 3-4 inches from his face before attempting to pet it

                He would then sniff my hand and after figuring out that there’s no treat in the hand, nudge and then turn away and do something else.

                Then he would go away and come back later and I would try again.

                Again he would sniff it but doesn’t nudge this time, so I proceed and stroke his head a little, but he keeps his nose in a position that follows my hand as in continued sniffing (looking up and sniffing?).

                Maybe silly question but should I wash my hands after feeding before attempting to pet? Maybe that’s what i’m missing??


              • JackRabbit
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                  I wouldn’t worry about it. Bunnies are funny that way, sometimes they want pets and sometimes they can’t be bothered. I’m guessing the nudge was to let you know that your hand was empty and you should put more treats in there!

                  I give my bunnies treats at the beginning of play time and they climb all over me until they’re sure the treats are all gone, then they binky off to play. When they’ve worn themselves out and flop down, I can pet them all I want (they have me well trained!). Bunnies aren’t like dogs — when it comes to bunnies, everything is on their terms!


                • Flopsie
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                    if you really wish to do some training, you can shape the behavior a bit. I’m not sure how effective this is since i don’t work with animals, but behaviors and learning should be universal. I just can’t comment on bunnies because I don’t know the cognitive abilities of a bunny.

                    So what you want to do is reinforce petting behavior. Let’s define petting as 1 single stroke from the tip of the nose to the base of the neck. What you want to do is not give a treat for free. Step one is to have a treat in hand. Break into smaller pieces if possible. This way you can have multiple opportunities to practice but not feel the risk of over feeding treats.

                    Hold the treat in front of the bunny so that he/she can see it but not get it. With the other hand pet her once and then give her the treat. This way the treat isn’t for free and you’ve gotten one pet in. This teaches her a contingency. Don’t be greedy and try to get more pets in. Start small and only give her the treat if you get a pet in. Do this for the rest of the treats (e.g., thats why breaking into smaller pieces is ideal). Repeat this step daily until you are able to consistently get one pet in without running away, etc.

                    Once you can do that, increase to two pets and from there systematically go until you can get more.

                    Worth a try I suppose right?

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                Forum BEHAVIOR Bunny sniffs my hands for food